Gameplay
[edit]
Like previous installments, Final Fantasy VI consists of four basic modes of gameplay:
an overworld map, town and dungeon field maps, a battle screen, and a menu screen. The
overworld map is a scaled-down version of the game's world, which the player uses to direct
characters to various locations. As with most games in the series, the three primary means of
travel across the overworld are by foot, chocobo, and airship. With a few plot-driven exceptions,
enemies are randomly encountered on field maps and on the overworld when traveling by foot.
The menu screen is where the player makes such decisions as which characters will be in the
traveling party, which equipment they wield, the magic they learn, and the configuration of the
gameplay. It is also used to track experience points and levels.[2]
The game's plot develops as the player progresses through towns and dungeons. Town citizens
will offer helpful information, and some residents own item or equipment shops. Later in the
game, visiting certain towns will activate side-quests. Dungeons appear as a variety of areas,
including caves, forests, and buildings. These dungeons often have treasure chests containing
rare items that are not available in most stores. Dungeons may feature puzzles and mazes, with
some dungeons requiring the player to divide the characters into multiple parties which must
work together to advance through the dungeon.[2]
Combat
[edit]
A battle in Final Fantasy VI
Combat in Final Fantasy VI is menu-based, in which the player selects an action from a list of
such options as Fight, Magic, and Item. A maximum of four characters may be used in battles,
which are based on the series' traditional Active Time Battle (ATB) system, first featured in Final
Fantasy IV. Under this system, each character has an action bar that replenishes itself at a rate
dependent on their speed statistic. When a character's action bar is filled, the player may assign
an action. In addition to standard battle techniques, each character possesses a unique special
ability. For example, Locke possesses the ability to steal items from enemies, while
Celes' Runic ability allows her to absorb most magical attacks cast until her next turn.[3]
Another element is the Desperation Attack, a powerful attack substitution that occasionally
appears when a character's health is low. Similar features appear in later Final Fantasy titles
under a variety of different names, including Limit Breaks, Trances, and Overdrives.
[4]
Characters are rewarded for victorious battles with experience points and money,
called gil (Gold Piece (GP) in the original North American localization). When characters attain a
certain number of experience points, they gain a level, which increases their statistics. An
additional player may play during battle scenarios, with control of individual characters assigned
from the configuration menu.[3]
Customization
[edit]
Characters in Final Fantasy VI can be equipped with a variety of weapons, armor and, particular
to this entry, powerful accessories known as "Relics". Weapons and armor increase combat
capability, mostly by increasing statistics and adding beneficial effects to attacks. By
comparison, Relics have a variety of uses and effects, are almost entirely interchangeable
among party members, and are extended in sophistication to alter basic battle commands and
exceed normal limitations of the game's systems.
Although in VI only two playable characters start the game with the ability to use magic, magic
may later be taught to almost all other playable characters through the game's introduction of
magicite and the Espers that magicite shards contain. "Espers" are the game's incarnation of
the series' trope of "summons", powerful monstrous beings, many of which are recurring
throughout the series, such as Ifrit, Shiva, Bahamut and Odin. Besides those returning from
previous entries, VI features approximately two dozen of them in total, with more added to later
versions of the game.
The setting and plot of the game revolve heavily around Espers and their remains when
deceased, which are referred to as "magicite". Each piece of magicite has a specific set of
magic spells that a character can learn when they are equipped with it in the menu. If used often
enough, these abilities become permanently accessible, even if the magicite is removed.
Additionally, some pieces of magicite grant a statistical bonus to a character when they gain a
level. Finally, when a character equips a piece of magicite, they may summon the
corresponding Esper during battle.[5]
